Hand tool for dispensing frozen food items

ABSTRACT

A food dispensing tool including an elongated body having a hollow semi-spherical scoop member adjacent one end and a handle portion adjacent the opposite end. The scoop member includes a circular endless peripheral edge defining an opening therefor. A semi-circular blade is mounted for oscillatory movement within the scoop member being defined by opposed, laterally extending cutting edges positionable adjacent opposed portions of the peripheral edge of the scoop member. A power means including a rotatable shaft is operably connected to the cutter blade. Rotation limiting means is connected between the cutter blade and shaft for converting rotary movement of the shaft to oscillatory movement of the cutting blade for alternately positioning the cutting edges in cutting relation adjacent the opposed portions of the peripheral edge of the scoop member.

United States Patent Magalotti et a1. Jan. 8, 1974 1 HAND TOOL FORDISPENSING FROZEN 2,210,623 8/1940 Kelly t. 425/281 x FOOD ITEMS1,763,389 6/1930 Chapman 425/280 2,638,065 5/1953 Tarr 1. 425/280 X [76]Inventors: Thomas D. Magalotti, 4371 Ammon Lyndhurst Ohm 44121; ErnestPrimary Exam inerJ. Spencer Overholser l deFeased late of SouthAssistant Examiner--David S. Safran Euchd Ohm 44121 by EleanorAttorney-Albert R. Teare et a1. August, executrix [22] Filed: Apr. 6,1972 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 241,748 A food dispensing toolincluding an elongated body having a hollow semi-spherica1 scoop memberadja- 'fw Apphcatmn Dam cent one end and a handle portion adjacent theoppo- [631' commuatomn'pan of 8831784 site end. The scoop memberincludes a circular end- 1970 abandoned less peripheral edge defining anopening therefor. A

semi-circular blade is mounted for oscillatory move- 52 :18. (i1.425/280 mem within the scoop member being defined by 1ft. C p d l e yextending cutting e g p on [58] Field of Search 425/280: 285, 278,adjacent opposed portions of the peripheral edga of 425/276 310/5015/167 R the scoop member. A power means including a rotatable shaft isoperably connected to the cutter blade. [56] Rem'ences C'ted Rotationlimiting means is connected between the cut- UMTED STATES PATENTS terblade and shaft for converting rotary movement of 1,862,527 6/1932 Cox425/285 X the shaft to oscillatory movement of the cutting blade 33/1932 425/285 for alternately positioning the cutting edges in cutting2,412,050 12/1946 Lawrence 61 a1. 425/280 elatign adjacent the opposedportions of the peflph- 3,196,298 7/1965 Kent 310/50 eral edge f thescoop member. 3,379,906 4/1968 310/50 2,239,046 4/1941 Lloyd 425/281 8Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 53 so 26 1 7 4.21. 7 44 45 A13 51 68 IO e b II 60 g3 8 8E 42 94 33 +1- Q 5 43 r I4 8 r PATENTEB JAN 8 I974 SHiET 10F2 EVE M II x 6 o W m l1! H r vm mm 9 Q A om w moi WV VN @N oww V v mm Ng 31 I] M m my mm Il mQ HAND TOOL FOR DISPENSING FROZEN FOOD ITEMS CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is acontinuation-in-part of [1.8. patent application, Ser. No. 883,784 ofErnest Au- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is relatedto hand tools and more particularly, to hand tools for dispensing fooditems, such as ice cream, sherbet or the like. Ice cream, sherbet andsimilar food items are packaged in large bulk containers by themanufacturers for shipment to retailers who remove the ice cream fromthe containers in the form of individual charges or dips for making icecream cones.

Heretofore, the ice cream has been removed from such containers by ahand tool which includes a cupshapecl scoop member. These containers arestored in freezers to keep the ice cream in a frozen condition untildispensed. Often the frozen ice cream is extremely hard making it verydifficult to penetrate the ice cream with the scoop member. This resultsin considerable loss of time in forming a particular charge or dip, aswell as the formation of undesirably shaped charges or dips.

Recently, a large number of retail outlets have been established whichdispense exclusively ice cream in the form of cones or hand-packed"cartons. In such establishments, when the ice cream is provided in anextremely hard state, as aforementioned, is it extremely difficult andtiring to an operator to remove the ice cream from the bulk containersin the form of dips often causing delays which are annoying to thewaiting customers, therefore, it has become necessary to provide aneasier and more efficient means for forming dips of ice cream in orderto provide speedier service to these waiting customers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates providing anim proved hand tool for dispensing food items, such as ice cream,sherbet or the like, and comprises an elongated body including a handleportion disposed at one end and a hollow, open-top scoop member adjacentthe opposite end. A cutter blade is'mounted for oscillatory movementwithin the scoop member for cutting engagement with the ice cream. Thescoop member is of a generally semi-spherical configuration beingdefined adjacent its open top by an endless peripheral edge. The cutterblade is generally semi-circular in configuration being defined byopposed, generally laterally extending cutting edges. One of the cuttingedges is positionable in cutting relation adjacent one portion of theperipheral edge of the scoop member and the other of the cutting edgesis positionable in cutting relation adjacent another portion of theperipheral edge of the scoop member. A power means including a driveassembly is supported by the body including one shaft member arrangedfor rotation in one direction. Another shaft member is operablyconnected to the cutter blade for imparting movement thereto. A rotationlimiting means is connected between the one shaft member and the othershaft member for conferting the rotary movement of the one shaft memberto oscillatory movement of the other shaft member for alternatelypositioning the respective ones of the cutting edges in cutting relationadjacent the respective opposed portions of the peripheral edge of thescoop member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of thecutter scoop of the I present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a typical schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of thecutter scoop of the present invention; and

FIGS. 7-14 are diagramatic illustrations showing various stages ofmovement of the rotation limiting means of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again to FIG. I, thetool of the present in vention is shown, generally at 2, as including abody or casing 4 having a scoop member 8., such as a cup or the like,adjacent the one end, such as the front end. A cutter blade 10 ismounted interiorly the scoop member 8 being arranged for oscillating orswinging movement within the scoop member 8 for cutting engagement withthe food item, such as an ice cream and for separating the ice creamfrom the scoop member in a man ner to be described more fullyhereinafter, A drive mechanism 12 is shown as being enclosed within thebody 4 and includes rotation limiting means 14 for imparting oscillatingmovement to the cutter blade 10. A power unit 16, such as an electricmotor or the like, is shown mounted within the body 4 being arranged forconnection to a suitable source of electrical energy, such as by a plug18, for operating the tool 2. Referring now also to FIG. 6, a switchassembly 20 is mounted on the body 4 and includes a push button 22disposed on the exterioron the body 4 selectively actuating a suitableswitch device 24, such as a micro-switch or the like, to apply powerfrom the electrical energy source to the electric motor 16. The rotationlimiting means 14 isshown as including a cam assembly 26 (FIG. 5)

whichis operably connected to the motor 16 by a shaft 28 and to thecutter blade 10 by a shaft 30. The cam assembly 26 is arranged such thatcontinuous rotational movement of the shaft 28 in one direction willcause oscillating movement in the shaft 30 for swinging or oscillatingthe cutter blade 10 back and forth within-the scoop member 8.

Referring now again to FIG. 2, the body 4 may be made of any suitablematerial such as plastic, metal or the like and is of an elongatedconstruction and includes a forwardly extending stem portion 32 adjacentthe front end, an intermediate portion 33 and a handle portion 34 whichincludes a hollow cavity 35 adjacent the rear end. The stem portion 32includes a rearwardly extending annular lip 36 and the intermediateportion 33 includes at its front end a correspondingly configuredextending lip 37 adapted for slide-fitted interengagement within the lip36 for connecting the stem portion 32 to the intermediate portion 33,such as by fasteneres 38. Likewise, the intermediate portion 33 includesat its rear end another annular lip 39 and the handle portion 34includes a correspondingly configured lip 40 adapted for slide-fittedinterengagement with the lip 39 for connecting the handle portion 34 tothe intermediate portion 33. Similarly, the handle portion may be splitto enable acess to the cavity 35, and as shown may includecorrespondingly configured lips 41 and 45 adapted for slide-fittedinterengagement with one another. The screws, as at 49, may be providedfor threadably connecting the handle portion 37 together.

As shown in FIG. 2, the scoop member or bowl 8 is rigidly connected inany suitable manner such as welding or the like, to one end of the stemportion 32 and is shown as being of a hollow, open-topped construction,including a smooth, generally uniformly curving interior surface 42 anda correspondingly curving outer surface 43. The surfaces 42 and 43 areshown as being generally semi-spherical in configuration and mergeadjacent the open top of the scoop member 8 to define an endless,generally circular upper marginal edge 44 (FIGS. land 3).

The cutter blade 10 is of a generally semi-circular configuration, whenviewed in side elevation (FIG. 1), being curved so as to conform to theinterior surface 42 of the scoop member 18. As shown in FIG. 2, thecutter blade 10 is attached at one end, such as by a screw 46, to theshaft 30 on one side of the bowl 8 adjacent the marginal edge 44. Theother end of the cutter blade 10 is pivotally connected to the scoopmember 8 adjacent a diametrically opposed side of the marginal edge 44by a cylindrical pin 29 which is axially aligned with the shaft 30 andextends through an opening 60 in the scoop member 8. Referring now toFIG. 3, the cutter blade 10 is shown as being generally arcuate intransverse cross-section including an inner surface 62 and an outersurface 64. The outer surface 64 is shown as having substantially thesame radius of curvature as the interior surface 26 of the scoop member6 such that the cutter blade will slide in flush relation therealong.The inner surface 62 of the cutter blade 10 is shown as having the sameradius of curvature as the outer surface 64 and the blade is machined orotherwise tapered downwardly and outwardly adjacent its opposed edges,as at 31 and 33, defining spaced, generally laterally extending cuttingedges 34 and 35 which extend lengthwise along opposite sides of thecutter blade 10 and thus providing a cutter blade 10 which is wider atits center than at its opposed ends. As shown in FIG. 3, the outersurface 43 of the scoop member 8 is machined or otherwise beveledadjacent the upper marginal edge 44, such as at 66, such that its outersurface 43 merges smoothly with the outer surface 64 of the cutter blade10 for reasons which will become more apparent hereinafter.

The shaft 30 is shown as being generally cylindrical in cross section(FIG. and extends through and is supported for rotation within acylindrical bore 52 in the stem portion 32, being journaled for rotationat one end, such as its rearward end in a bearing 51. The shaft 30includes a stub portion 53 of reduced diameter adjacent its forward endwhich extends through and is supported for pivotal movement in anopening 54 in one side of the scoop member 8 and projects into the interior thereof being adapted for connection to the cutter blade 10. Thestub portion 53 is keyed or otherwise fixedly connected in any suitablemanner to the cutter blade 10. For example, the stub portion 53 may beformed so as to have a polygonal cross section, such as square, and maybe fitted within a similarly configured opening in the cutter blade, asat 56, to prevent relative movement of the cutter blade 10 with respectto the shaft 30. The shaft 30 is also shown as including an axiallyextending threaded bore 58 at its front end which is adapted tothreadably receive the screw 46 having a head 47 for engaging the cutterblade 10 and securing the cutter blade 10 to the shaft 30.

The motor 17 is shown mounted within the cavity 35 and includes a driveshaft 68 which projects forwardly and rearwardly of the motor framebeing journaled for rotation in bearings 70 and 72 supported by the body4. The motor 17 is restricted against rotation by a set screw 74 whichis threaded through the body 4 and into the motor frame, as at '76. Theplug 18 includes a cord 78 which may be attached to the body 4, such asby a grommet 80, having leads 82 and 84 which extend through the grommetinto the cavity 35 for attachment to the motor 17 through the switchassembly 20 (FIG. 6) to enable electrical energy to be selectivelyapplied thereto.

The body 4 may include spaced cavities 94 and 96. A cylindrical bore 93extends lengthwise between the cavities 94 and 96 being adapted toreceive the shaft 28 therethrough. Bearings and 92 are shown mounted atopposite ends of the bore 93, and the shaft 28 is journaled for rotationin the bearings 90 and 92 having one end, such as its rearward end,extending into the cavity 96 for operable connection to the drive shaft68. The

opposite or forward end of the shaft 28 extends into the cavity 94 beingadapted for operable connection to the rotation limiting means 14. Inthe form shown, a gear 86 is attached to or formed on the forward end ofthe drive shaft 68 in any suitable manner being adapted for drivingengagement with another gear 88 mounted adjacent the rearward end of theshaft 30 for rotating the shaft 30 upon actuation of the motor 17.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the rotation limiting means 14 is shown asincluding an eccentric cam member 100 fixedly connected to the shaft 30and a cam follower member 102 which is fixedly connected to the shaft28. The cam member 100 is shown as being circular in configuration, whenviewed in end elevation in FIG. 5, having a circular outer peripheralsurface 104 adapted for camming coacting engagement with the camfollower member 102. As shown, the cam follower member 102 includes atransversely extending slot 106 which is defined by spaced, generallyparallel side walls 108 and 110 between which the cam member 100 ismounted in the installed position thereof (FIG. 2) so that theperipheral surface 104 will cammingly engage the side walls 108 and 110upon rotation of the shaft 30. The cam member 100 is shown as having adiameter which is slightly less than the transverse width of the slot106 to enable the cam member 100 to be rotated therein and relative tothe cam follower member 102 as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the form shown in FIG. 5, the shaft member 30 is attached to the cammember 100 adjacent the peripheral surface 104 such that upon rotationof the shaft 30, the geometrical center 11 1 of the cam member 100 willbe rotated about the central axis of the shaft 28. The shaft 30 isattached to the cam follower member 102 such that upon rotation of thecam member 100, the

peripheral surface 104 will engage a respective one of the side walls108 or 110 to cause oscillating rotational movement of the cam followermember 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 14, the cutter blade 10 is in the centeredposition with respect to the upper marginal edge 44 of the scoop member8 when the cam member 100 and cam follower member 102 are in thepositions shown in FIG. 7. In such centered position, the axes ofrotation 112, 113 and 114 of the shafts 28, 30 and 68, respectively,extend generally parallel to one another and the geometrical center, asat 111, of the cam member 100 and the axes of rotation 112 and 113 ofthe shafts 28 and 30, respectively, define a plane 116 which issubstantially parallel to the side walls 103 and 110. Further, the cammember 100 extends in a direction toward the shaft 28 having itsgeometrical center 111 located between the axes of rotation 112 and 113of the shafts 28 and 30, respectively. By this at rangement, rotation ofthe shaft 30, such as in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow117 in FIG. 7, will cause the peripheral surface 104 of the cam member100 to cammingly engage, such as at 118, one of the side walls, such as108, and pivot the cam follower member 102 in a counterclockwisedirection, as indicated by the arrow 120 in FIG. 7. The angular rotationof the cam follower member 102 is determined by the diameter of the cammember 100, the width of the slots 106, and the distance between theaxes of rotation 112 and 113 of the shafts 28 and 30, respectively.

FIGS. 8 to 14 diagrammatically illustrate the various stages in onecomplete revolution of the cam member 100 so as to impart oscillatingrotational movement to the cutter member 10. The stages in the rotationof the cam member 100 are shown displaced 45 apart in the clockwisedirection as measured between an imaginary line which extends throughcentral axis of the shaft and the geometric center of the cam member100, as at 122, and the plane 116 extending through the axes of rotation112 and 113. For purposes of simplicity of illustration in FIGS. 8 to14, the direction of movement of the cam member 100 will also bedesignated by an arrow 117 and the direction of movement of the camfollower member 102 will also be designated by an arrow 120, regardlessof the direction of movement.

In FIG. 8, the cam member 100, and thus the plane 116, is showndisplaced through an angle of 45 from its position in FIG. 7 and the camfollower member 112 has reached its maximum angular displacement in onedirection, such as in the counterclockwise direction. As shown in FIG.8, the maximum angular displacement in the counter-clockwise directionoccurs when the imaginary line 122 extends generally perpendicularly tothe walls 108 and 110. At this time, camming engagement between the cammember 100 and the cam follower member 102 transfers from the wall 1 10to the wall 108 adjacent the shaft 28. As shown in FIGS. 9 through 14,the peripheral surface 104 of the cam member 100 continues to slidablyand rollably engage the wall 110 so as to force the cam follower member102 in the clockwise direction until the line 122 is again perpendicularto the walls 108 and 110 (FIG. 14). At this time, camming engagementbetween the cam member 100 and the cam follower member 102 transfersfrom the wall 110 back to the wall 108 adjacent the shaft 20, and thus,the cam follower member is forced to move back in the counter-clockwisedirection. As can be seen, by this arrangement the continuous rotationof the shaft 28 in one direction is transferred into oscillatingrotation in the shaft member 30, and thus, the cutter blade 10 is movedback and forth within the scoop member 8.

Referring now again to FIGS. 3 and 5, the cutter blade 10 is mounted onthe shaft 16, such that the cutting edges 34 and 35 project upwardlyabove the upper marginal edge 44 of the scoop member 8 when the cutterblade 10 is swung in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions,respectively. As shown, the upper marginal edge 44 may be tapereddownwardly and outwardly from the pivotal connections 28 and 29 of thecutter blade 10, such that the distance between the cutting edges 34 and35 and the corresponding adjacent portions of the upper marginal edge 44is greater at the center of the cutting blade then at the opposed ends,as shown in FIG. 3. It is to be understood that the degree of taper ofthe upper marginal edge 44 and the transverse width of the cutter blade10 between the cutting edges 34 and 35 can be predetermined so as tocontrol the extent of projection of the cutting edges 34 and 35 abovethe upper marginal edge 44, as desired. 1

Referring now to FIG. 6, the micro-switch 24 may be of a normally-opentype adapted to be closed upon depression of the push-button 22. Asshown, closing of the micro-switch 24 will apply power to the motor 17for operating the tool. Thus, when it is desired to scoop a food item,such as ice cream, from a container, the operator may pick up the toolby the handle portion 34 and depress the push-button 22. to energize themotor 17 and actuate the cutter blade 10; The scoop member 8 is theninserted into the ice cream, such that the cutting edges 34 and 35engage the ice cream. Bythe arrangement shown, the cutting action on theice cream occurs alternately on opposite sides of the scoop member 0 bythe cutting edges 34 and 35 to provide a chopping-like action on the icecream to ease the ice cream into the interior of the scoop memberregardless of which side of the scoop member 8 engages the ice cream.That is, continued rotation of the shaft 30 will cause the cutter blade10 to be continuously moved from one side to the other side of the scoopmember 8 causing the cutting edges 34 and 35 to alternately be projectedbeyond the upper marginal edge 44 into the cutting position. Further,when the scoop member 8 has been completely filled with ice cream,continued oscillation of the cutter member 10 within the scoop member 8separates the ice cream from engagement with the interior surface of thescoop member 8 so that a well formed charge of ice cream can be easilyand readily discharged from the scoop member Sinto a separatorcontainer, such as a cone or the like.

What is claimed is: 1. A portable hand tool for dispensing a food item,such as ice cream or the like, comprising an elongated body, said bodyincluding a handle portion at one end and a hollow, open-topped scoopmember adjacent the opposite end, a cutter means mounted for oscillatorymovement within said scoop member, said scoop member having a generallyuniform curving interior surface being defined adjacent its open top byan endless peripheral edge, said cutter means being curved to conform tothe curvature of said interior surface including opposed, laterallyextending cutting edges.

motor means mounted in said body and operably connected to said cuttermeans for imparting movement thereto,

rotation limiting means operably connected between said cutter means andsaid motor means for limiting oscillatory movement of said cutter meansin one direction to position one of the cutting edges of said cuttermeans above one portion of said peripheral edge of said scoop member andlimiting movement in the opposite direction to position the opposedcutting edge of said cutter means above an opposed portion of saidperipheral edge on the opposite side of said scoop member.

2. A hand tool in accordance with claim ll, wherein said cutter meanscomprising an elongated cutter blade,

said cutter blade being of a generally uniform thickness throughout itslength,

said cutter blade being pivotally connected adjacent its opposed ends tooppositely disposed sides of said peripheral edge,

said cutter blade being wider at its center than at its opposed ends,and

the center of said cutter blade is positioned a greater distance abovesaid peripheral edge of said scoop member than are its opposed ends atthe completion of movement of said cutter blade adjacent the opposedportions of said peripheral edge on opposite sides of said scoop member.

3. A hand tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cutter meanscomprises an elongated cutter,

said cutter blade being pivotally connected adjacent oppositely disposedsides of said peripheral edge,

said peripheral edge is tapered downwardly and outwardly from saidpivotal connections such that said cutting edges project a greaterdistance above said peripheral edge between said pivotal connectionsthan adjacent said pivotal connection.

4. A hand tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein said scoop member isof a generally semi-spherical configuration, and

said cutter means comprises an elongated cutter blade having a generallysemi-circular configuration when viewed in side elevation.

5. A hand tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein,

said rotation limiting means comprises one shaft member operablyconnected to said motor means, and

another shaft member operably connected to said cutter means, and

eccentric cam means operably connected between one shaft member and saidother shaft member to convert continuous rotational movement of said oneshaft member in one direction to oscillating rotational movement of saidother shaft member.

6. A hand tool in accordance with claim 5, wherein said eccentric cammeans comprises,

an eccentric cam member connected to said one shaft member, and a camfollower member connected to said other shaft member,

said cam follower member including a slot therein being defined byspaced, generally parallel side walls,

said cam member being mounted on said one shaft member in offsetrelation from its geometrical center, and

said cam member being disposed within said slot and including aperipheral edge for camingly coacting with said sidewalls upon rotationof said one shaft member to alternatively move said cam follower memberin one direction during one-half of a full revolution of the said oneshaft member and in the opposite direction during remaining one-halfrevolution of said one shaft member.

7. A hand tool in accordance with claim 2, wherein said cutter bladeincludes an upper surface and a lower surface, and

said cutter blade is tapered downwardly and outwardly in a directionfrom said upper surface toward said lower surface to define said cuttingedges for separating said ice cream from said scoop member.

8. A portable hand tool for dispensing a food item,

such ice cream or the like, comprising an elongated body,

said body including a handle portion at one end and a hollow,open-topped scoop member adjacent the opposite end,

a cutter means mounted for oscillatory movement within said scoopmember,

said scoop member having a generally uniform curving interior surfacebeing defined adjacent its open top by an endless peripheral edge,

said cutter means including an elongated cutter blade curved to conformto the curvature of said interior surface,

said cutter blade is generally uniform in thickness throughout itslength and includes opposed, laterally extending cutting edges forcutting engagement with said food item,

said cutter blade is pivotally connected adjacent its opposite ends tooppositely disposed sides of said scoop member adjacent said peripheraledge,

motor means mounted in said body and operably connected to said cutterblade for imparting pivotal, oscillating movement thereto, and

rotation limiting means operably connected between said cutter blade andsaid motor means for imparting oscillatory movement of said cutter bladein one direction to position one of said cutting edges in cuttingposition above one portion of said peripheral edge on one side of saidscoop member and limiting oscillatory movement of said cutter blade inthe opposite direction to position the opposed cutting edge of saidcutter blade in the cutting position above an opposed portion of saidperipheral edge on the opposite side of said scoop member.

1. A portable hand tool for dispensing a food item, such as ice cream orthe like, comprising an elongated body, said body including a handleportion at one end and a hollow, open-topped scoop member adjacent theopposite end, a cutter means mounted for oscillatory movement withinsaid scoop member, said scoop member having a generally uniform curvinginterior surface being defined adjacent its open top by an endlessperipheral edge, said cutter means being curved to conform to thecurvature of said interior surface including opposed, laterallyextending cutting edges. motor means mounted in said body and operablyconnected to said cutter means for imparting movement thereto, rotationlimiting means operably connected between said cutter means and saidmotor means for limiting oscillatory movement of said cutter means inone direction to position one of the cutting edges of said cutter meansabove one portion of said peripheral edge of said scoop member andlimiting movement in the opposite direction to position the opposedcutting edge of said cutter means above an opposed portion of saidperipheral edge on the opposite side of said scoop member.
 2. A handtool in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cutter means comprising anelongated cutter blade, said cutter blade being of a generally uniformthickness throughout its length, said cutter blade being pivotallyconnected adjacent its opposed ends to oppositely disposed sides of saidperipheral edge, said cutter blade being wider at its center than at itsopposed ends, and the center of said cutter blade is positioned agreater distance above said peripheral edge of said scoop member thanare its opposed ends at the completion of movement of said cutter bladeadjacent the opposed portions of said peripheral edge on opposite sidesof said scoop member.
 3. A hand tool in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid cutter means comprises an elongated cutter, said cutter blade beingpivotally connected adjacent oppositely disposed sides of saidperipheral edge, said peripheral edge is tapered downwardly andoutwardly from said pivotal connections such that said cutting edgesproject a greater distance above said peripheral edge between saidpivotal connections than adjacent said pivotal connection.
 4. A handtool in accordance with claim 1, wherein said scoop member is of agenerally semi-spherical configuration, and said cutter means comprisesan elongated cutter blade having a generally semi-circular configurationwhen viewed in side elevation.
 5. A hand tool in accordance with clAim1, wherein, said rotation limiting means comprises one shaft memberoperably connected to said motor means, and another shaft memberoperably connected to said cutter means, and eccentric cam meansoperably connected between one shaft member and said other shaft memberto convert continuous rotational movement of said one shaft member inone direction to oscillating rotational movement of said other shaftmember.
 6. A hand tool in accordance with claim 5, wherein saideccentric cam means comprises, an eccentric cam member connected to saidone shaft member, and a cam follower member connected to said othershaft member, said cam follower member including a slot therein beingdefined by spaced, generally parallel side walls, said cam member beingmounted on said one shaft member in offset relation from its geometricalcenter, and said cam member being disposed within said slot andincluding a peripheral edge for camingly coacting with said sidewallsupon rotation of said one shaft member to alternatively move said camfollower member in one direction during one-half of a full revolution ofthe said one shaft member and in the opposite direction during remainingone-half revolution of said one shaft member.
 7. A hand tool inaccordance with claim 2, wherein said cutter blade includes an uppersurface and a lower surface, and said cutter blade is tapered downwardlyand outwardly in a direction from said upper surface toward said lowersurface to define said cutting edges for separating said ice cream fromsaid scoop member.
 8. A portable hand tool for dispensing a food item,such ice cream or the like, comprising an elongated body, said bodyincluding a handle portion at one end and a hollow, open-topped scoopmember adjacent the opposite end, a cutter means mounted for oscillatorymovement within said scoop member, said scoop member having a generallyuniform curving interior surface being defined adjacent its open top byan endless peripheral edge, said cutter means including an elongatedcutter blade curved to conform to the curvature of said interiorsurface, said cutter blade is generally uniform in thickness throughoutits length and includes opposed, laterally extending cutting edges forcutting engagement with said food item, said cutter blade is pivotallyconnected adjacent its opposite ends to oppositely disposed sides ofsaid scoop member adjacent said peripheral edge, motor means mounted insaid body and operably connected to said cutter blade for impartingpivotal, oscillating movement thereto, and rotation limiting meansoperably connected between said cutter blade and said motor means forimparting oscillatory movement of said cutter blade in one direction toposition one of said cutting edges in cutting position above one portionof said peripheral edge on one side of said scoop member and limitingoscillatory movement of said cutter blade in the opposite direction toposition the opposed cutting edge of said cutter blade in the cuttingposition above an opposed portion of said peripheral edge on theopposite side of said scoop member.